“Ti chiàmunu Ball Buster pi na raggiuni, ma tu non mi fa scantari, signura Vizzini. Ti avìa a pigghiari tanti anni fa. Allura non avìa a lassari quarchi d'unu usari l'òmini ancùora cchî pannolini pi fari nu travàgghiu ca sapìa ca fallìa.” They call you the Ball Buster for a reason, but you don’t frighten me, Mrs. Vizzini. I should have hired you ages ago. Then I wouldn't have had to let someone use men still in diapers to do a job I knew would fail.
I recognize her nickname, and Salvatore used herold—former—married name. It’s going to be Diaz when this shit ends.
“Enrique, you lucked out this time. You got a woman far too good for you. How you managed that—You must be acazzo d’Orro.”
Ellie chokes on a laugh.
“Considering your wifehadto marry you, and I’m with Enrique because Iwantto be, I’d get off my high horse if I were you, Salvatore. And we both know I’m not the wealthy one in this relationship. I certainly have no complaints, but we all know I’m not with him just because of what he can do in private.”
Salvatore arranged his marriage to his wife, but they fell in love almost immediately. It’s no secret the man adores her, so he’s still close to his in-laws. Her niece married his nephew, so that doubly connects the Mancinellis to the Torrettas. That’s why we planned to use them against Tommaso. But that plan came about after someone started watching Ellie.
“Mrs. Vizzini?—”
“Ms. McCann, and you know that Salvatore.”
She releases my hand and stands as she speaks. She puts out a staying hand and walks to my desk. She grabs a pencil and then looks around. She spots the printer and grabs a piece of paper before scribbling something as she leans over the desk.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree. You and that giant dog of yours.”
“You should know Constantine’s and my bite are worse than our bark. We’re both silent but deadly.”
She hands the note to me before sitting again.
He told me he had to let someone use men. He didn’t say his men, and he didn’t say he used them. He gave someone permission to use Sicilians. Who?
I hand the note to Luis, who skims it before handing it back to Ellie. His eyebrows rise, but he offers no other acknowledgement. She reaches for the paper and bends to use the coffee table to write more on it.
Tommaso swore it wasn’t him when I called, and I don’t think it is. But it’s definitely an outsider. I don’t believe it’s the O’Malleys or the Volkovs. My last job was in Sinaloa. It got messy before I could escape. I think Jesus found me and planned to strike, but then you and I met. Would he do this—take your sister or me—to get back at both of us?
I read her second note and nod.
“How’re Luca’s in-laws?
Salvatore’s oldest nephew and heir married a woman with connections to theCuliacán, the most powerful cartel in Mexico. It wouldn’t surprise me if thatcabrónJesus Espinoza wasn’t behind all of this. He’s more than just an asshole, but if Ellie can read my thoughts as well as I think I read hers, I don’t want her to know how much I loathe him.
“Fine, last I heard. I don’t keep tabs on them, but you should. As we speak, his family’s getting to know the O’Rourkes.”
I take the pen and paper from Ellie.
Since he didn’t hurt Catalina, just scared her, I think it could be him. He wants to fuck with me, but he knows not to push too hard or too far.
I look at Pablo and add a note for him before pointing to the top of the sheet as I hand it to him.
Son.
Pablo looks up from the paper and nods. He fires off a text and will soon know what Santiago Espinoza is up to. The guy lives in NYC because he’s in grad school. He’ll head back to Chihuahua when he’s done. He keeps his distance from us, but we keep an eye on him. We like to know where all our rivals are. Pablo will have an exact address soon enough.
I have another question for my longtime nemesis, sometimes ally. “Sal, did you hire Gérard and Johann?”
“No. I had nothing to do with this, Enrique, beyond staying out of the way.”
“And allowing Jesus to use Mafiosos right under your nose. He didn’t find them on his own. You found the men for him. Did you pick the shittiest ones, so they’d fuck up? Did you want to prove you’re in control? Or did you pick useless ones because you knew the consequences if Ellie or I got our hands on them?”
“This isn’t my fight. I brokered a deal, then stayed out of it. I didn’t decide who came over.”
I won’t say anything about Torretta since fucking with Tommaso already involves the Sicilian don. I don’t need to play that hand yet. I’m focused on Jesus. We have history, and thatbastardohas owed me a favor for nearly thirty years. I’m cashing in…after I get some payback.
“Mrs. Vizzini?—”
